An additive foray for stories, pictures and information about the ancestry and descendants of the James Family. Remember to wear your helmet, drink plenty of fluids, and enjoy yourself. The research on this blog and on Ancestry.com is for me, my children, my grandchildren, future generations and anyone else who is interested.
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Sunday, March 29, 2009

Chief Moytoy of Tellico 1687 - 1741 My 8g Grand Uncle

Great Tellico was a Cherokee town at the site of present-day Tellico Plains, Tennessee, where the Tellico River emerges from the Appalachian Mountains. Great Tellico was one of the largest Cherokee towns in the region.

The Warrior Path— a branch of the Great Indian Warpath— passed through Great Tellico, linking it to Chota in the north and Great Hiwassee in the south, via Conasauga Creek.

The Trading Path became the main route of trade between the British and the Cherokee during the 18th century.

Moytoy of Tellico was a Cherokee leader from Great Tellico, recognized by British colonial authorities as the "Emperor of the Cherokee"; the Cherokee themselves used the title "First Beloved Man". His name is derived from Amo-adawehi, "rainmaker," although it is unclear whether this was his personal name or a title he held.

In 1730 Sir Alexander Cuming, a Scottish adventurer with no particular authority, arranged for Moytoy to be crowned emperor over all of the Cherokee towns. He was crowned in Nikwasi with a headdress Cuming called the "Crown of Tannassy."

Cuming arranged to take Moytoy and a group of Cherokee to England to meet King George. Moytoy declined to go, saying that his wife was ill. Attakullakulla (Little Carpenter) volunteered to go in his place. The "Crown" was laid at King George's feet along with four scalps.

On his death the British recognized his 13 year old son Amouskositte as Emperor. He had little real authority among the elder-dominated Cherokee, and by 1753 Kanagatucko (Old Hop) of Chota had emerged as the leader.

I'm a little confused. If Amatoya Moytoy was 1/2 European and 1/2 Shawnee, how is it that Chief Moytoy is full blood Cherokee? I am descended from Old Hop on one side of my family and Oconostota on the other.

I'm surprised that no one has replied to your post in more than three years! I don't know where you got the idea that anyone believes Amatoy Moytoy was a European/Shawnee mix. I believe there was no contact with Europe until Chief Moytoy was "crowned" by Sir Alexander Cumming. I think the Scotsman was trying to effect trappings of leadership that the British could understand and accept in Moytoy, whom Sir Alexander had "discovered."

I am a descend of moytoy, his son moyetoy2 had daughter who married cournelus Dougherty and so came one of fore fathers. So on and so forth... My great great grandfather was Corn silk dougherty of stillwell cherokee nation, ok.

I am descended from Amatoya Moytoy (AL, Cherokee Nation) and his wife whose descendant daughter married Bernard Hughes, whose son also married Cherokee, on & on, leading to me through my 2nd GGrandmother, Lucy Hughes.

Elected Cherokee Chiefs were mixed from way back when. They were one of the first natives to mix. I'm a Moytoy direct descendant on Oconastota side. Old Hop was Oconastota's uncle. My 5th great gpa was Chief William Hicks who was only 1/4 Cherokee.

That's my great great great ect. Grandfather through the Raley family I have proof through my family tree. Which includes the meads, and the wards. Other family members are showing up that have Indian relation. My great great grandfather was also pure blood Blackfoot. My family relation is from Claremore Oklahoma that dates as far back to my family living in South Carolina. If you wish for a photo of my family tree email me at kenquinlan1@ hotmail.com.

I had no idea I had Mixed native american blooklines till I took the Ancestry DNA and it revealed a Persian componet from thousands of years ago - but it was 10 percent of my dna makeup which leads me to believe I have than one native american relation. Most of the other matches in my Ancestry DNA match list also have native american ancestors. I connected somehow to the James/Dalton family who supposedly goes back to Powhatans brother My ancestors go back to 1600s in Long Island NY but my ancestor William Salmon traveled to NC to gather turpentine in Chowan County Region. Im wondering if that is where the lineage came from. I have his grand daughter Lucretia Solomon 4th great grandmother. Is Solomon name present in Cherokee history? Thanks for great blog Joanne Fusselman Farrell

Hi, Joanne, Your mention of a "Persian component" confuses me -- do you know something I don't about the ancestry of any native American peoples being known to descend from Persians? If so, which tribe or tribes are you talking about? I know some beautiful, gracious people who are Persian.